"Healing doesn't erase the scars, but it shows the world that you survived and are stronger than your past."
Kiekie's POV
The next day I went to school with bruises on my skin. My fair skin couldn't hide the black and red marks from the beating.
I had given up on my parents' love. I didn't care anymore if they loved me or accepted me.
That night had been my rebirth. I decided I would no longer be the school nerd. I would no longer be the girl they tried to bully to death. Enough was enough. It was time to show the world who I really was.
"It's time to show the world that I am strong and not some weak girl."
That day at school, I remembered the pain in Cleo's eyes when she saw the bruises on my pale fair skin. She tried asking me how I got them—they weren't there when we were together. I told her I had fallen.
I couldn't hide the marks because I didn't have makeup. I still didn't know how to use it properly. She tried to get answers from me, but I ignored her.
On my way to the bathroom, someone pulled me inside the boys' bathroom. My body shook with fear. I had promised myself that night I wouldn't be afraid anymore—but being in the boys' bathroom made my heart race.
A hand covered my mouth so I wouldn't scream. I struggled, but a familiar voice whispered, "Shh…"
It was Chuck. He turned me around to face him.
He looked at my face, holding my chain, and ran his thumb across the bruises on my lips. I shivered from the touch, caught between pain and fear.
For the first time, Chuck looked at me with… care.
After a few seconds of inspecting the cuts on my hands and swollen cheeks, he said softly, holding my face and looking me in the eyes,
"Who did this to you?"
It was the first time. Why wasn't he bullying me? Wasn't he supposed to hurt me whenever I was in pain?
"Why do you care?" I asked, stepping back.
"I care, Isa," he said, eyes lowered to the floor.
He cares? A person who had bullied me since I was four… cares? Did he think I wanted his sick pity?
"You care?" I repeated, pushing him with anger. "You care?" I laughed with tears in my eyes, punching his chest. I wasn't insane—laughing when in pain was my way of releasing it. I didn't care if he hurt me at that moment. I was angry. Angry for everything he had put me through.
He stood there, guilt and regret written all over his face.
After a few minutes, I slid down the bathroom door, exhausted. He walked to me, lifted me gently, and hugged me while I cried.
It felt strange. Silly, even. Crying in the arms of someone who had hurt me all my life. And yet… I felt safe.
"What! You did that?" the narrator exclaimed. "How could you? You didn't tell me what happened, yet you went to cry in the arms of someone who hurt you for years. You are really interesting."
"I know it was silly, but I felt safe," I admitted. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this encounter. But now you know, right?"
"Yes… it's late, alright. I accept your apology."
I cried until my big doll-like cat eyes were red and puffy. When I finally stepped back, I realized I had been hugging someone who had caused me pain for years.
I turned to leave the bathroom, careful not to be seen. I didn't want anyone thinking wrongly—or reporting me.
Before I could open the door, Chuck gently pulled me back.
"What?" I asked, anger mixing with fear.
"I am sorry, Kiekie. I am so sorry, Isa… for everything," he said, tears running down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry for bullying you, for making you feel worthless. I didn't know what I was doing was destroying you mentally, like your parents. I didn't know. I… I was jealous of you."
My chest tightened.
"Jealous?" I repeated, incredulous.
"Yes," he whispered, voice breaking. "I was jealous back in kindergarten because I couldn't speak another language like you. I felt inferior. And then… when you excelled in chemistry, I felt smaller and smaller. I bullied you because of that. I lied to your parents to make things worse… I was foolish. I didn't realize how much I was hurting you."
Tears filled my eyes. His confession was raw, painful, and honest.
"I like you, Kiekie," he continued. "I like you… but I let my jealousy turn into anger. I know I have caused a lot of damage, but I told your family the truth this morning. I promised I would make it up to you. I will spend the rest of my life trying to fix what I broke."
I listened, stunned, feeling the weight of years of pain and now, the possibility of redemption.
Keke: He has lived up to that promise. He is still living up to it today.